The relative rate of wound healing in longitudinal and transverse laparotomy incisions. Animal experiments.

The wound healing of longitudinal and transverse laparotomy incisions was investigated in rabbits. The longitudinal incision was made in the linea alba cranially and caudally to the umbilicus, and the transverse at the level of the umbilicus. The mechanical testing was performed with a materials testing machine (Alvetron). In order to eliminate the influence on the different incisions of different forces acting upon them the mechanical characteristics of the wounds were expressed in per cent of those from the intact tissues. The measurements of the relative energy absorption displayed no significant difference between healing transverse (comprising rectus muscle) and longitudinal incision wounds. When the rectus wound is excluded, the transverse incision was more resistant to rupture than the longitudinal during the 28 days of wound healing studied. A comparison between the present results and those from investigations of holding power of tissues against suture shows, that the transverse incision should be preferred to the linea alba incision.